5th January, Old Deer Park

Old Haberdashers 2 – 1 Old Westminsters

(Keeno 31, Nichols 34)   (C Reidy O.G 88)

Back to business in 2008 and pre-match signs were worrying; Keeno tearing a chocolate muffin off his rotting left boot and Tommy Nichols being violently sick behind the goal. Rumours are still rife that his bird drugged him to stop him attending the OH Xmas do, maybe she was at it again!  

We were lucky not to go a couple of goals behind early on; a couple of quality stops from Leigh-Roy and tracking back skills from Stu keeping it scoreless.  Then OH struck twice in 5 minutes; first Keen Machine curling a corner straight in, after the keeper became entangled in Rico’s ice, and then Evans floating one into Will, who span and slipped in Nichols to bury under the keeper. Glorious!

Half time saw a straight swap, Paul Chuckle for Red Devil, and OH had chances to go 3-0, Keeno tearing up the full back to lay Will on for an open goal, The Bear applying his customary finish and blazing wildly over! This was vintage stuff from Keeno, reminiscent of his glory days for Habs back in 97/98. Back then he used to insist on being called "Rinsario", I’ll call him whatever he likes if he plays like that every week!  

Absolute bedlam broke out on 65 minutes as impressive newcomer Mackie warmed up. Confusion reigned as multiple players decided they would be coming off, Evans finally exploded and steamed off the pitch screeching “I’ll fucking go you selfish c*nts!!!”. This may have been the most undignified exit from a football field since Gerry Taggart saw red and flicked the bird to the disabled enclosure at Watford. And it was a blow as Evans had been winning every header and bossing the midfield with Rico. As OH held on against some more late pressure, again attention flashed to the touchline, as a wild-eyed Evans squared up to the away manager, who apparently had likened Evans in his white spandex top to one of Siegfried and Roy!

Right at the death, Chris Reidy popped up with his customary own goal to set the nerves going, bravely sticking out a leg and burying a wayward shot under Leigh-Roy. The fiery stopper said nothing but simply gave Reidy the death stare, in truth I nearly shit my pants!!

There was one final drama as a long punt in the 94^th evaded Brodders and Reidy, Kev Harris steaming across to combine with Leigh and block a certain equaliser.

So another solid performance and we are still unbeaten at home in the league. Now 2 massive cup ties, if we win the quarter final we can realistically start penning the lyrics for the Cup Final single.

MOM: John Glenn was quality, as was Keeno aka Rinsario. But have to give it to Rico, definitely early contender for Player of the Season.

Comedy moment of the match: Evans’ tirade came close but Brodders squaring up to their centre forward and talking in jive has to clinch it, shaking off his boy next door image to issue “What gwann rudeboy” before slapping the youth.  

Rumour of the day: Russ Jones and Smudge missing the game to have crisis talks over their 2008 London Marathon attempt. Apparently Jones swang for Smudge after he dropped out 15 minutes into a 6 mile run. Smudge is now seeking sponsorship to run the Borehamwood 4km fun run and hasn’t spoken to Jones all week (The Sun)